Favorite Photo of the Week: Stillness

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/200, f/11

When I go to the beach I am always amazed by the stillness I feel. Despite the perpetual motion of the waves, I can't help but feel that the ocean creates this sense of stillness that is exactly what I need to feel most myself. Perhaps it allows me to slow down and connect to something greater than me. This feeling I have whenever I spend time at the beach is what I hope these photos communicate. These photo were taken on the Washington coast, the first one at Grayland and the second off the highway near North Cove. The first photo was processed using basic settings in Lightroom and the second was processed using Lightroom Presets from Preset Heaven which had a post called "28 Free Presets from Chris." The specific preset used is called "sweet."

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/400, f/11

“Be still. Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity.”  ― Lao Tzu

              

The Charm of Clark Lake Park 3.8.12

charm (noun) - 1. the power or quality of giving delight or arousing admiration; 2. an attractive or alluring characteristic

There is something so charming about a local park tucked away in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. Clark Lake Park is a peaceful place situated in between two busy main roads. As you walk into the park the sounds of road die away and you are left to explore the winding trails and meander around the lake. Last week as I took a break to enjoy and photograph the park I was drawn to setting sun moving toward the rolling hills. I took this photo and was unimpressed. It just didn't capture what I wanted it to. I wanted to show the vastness of the space and the bright sun. As I looked at the picture on my camera screen it just didn't give me that feel. 

Then I came home and opened it in Lightroom and still felt disappointed by what I saw. I decided to try editing it anyway. I started by removing the distracting flares. I did a clean edit to balance the light and color a bit more. Then for fun I applied a preset called HDR Effect - Medium (which I unfortunately cannot remember where I got at this moment). What do you think? I would love to know your thoughts. Thank you for stopping by!

Settings: ISO 200, 18mm, ss1/50, f/22 (sunlight wb, SOOC)

Intention: Vastness of the grassy hills and bright sun

Clean Edit in Lightroom to remove flares and balance colors

Lightroom Preset applied - HDR Effect - Medium

"The hills are alive with the sound of music

With songs they have sung for a thousand years

The hills fill my heart with the sound of music

My heart wants to sing every song it hears"

- The Sound of Music

 

     

Favorite Photo of the Week: Lake and a Sunset 2.11.12

An extremely busy and stressful week ends. It was a week filled with disappointments, but also with moments of blessings that filled me with hope. While I may not have captured those moments with my camera, I love that I am able to capture the same feelings in my photos. The two photos below do just that, the first seems like a physical manifestation of radiant hope and the second is just one of those blessed moments. 

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/100, f/7.1 

(full manual, spot removal and a bit of a creative edit in Lightroom)

    

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/100, f/7.1 

(full manual, cloudy wb, preset applied in Lightroom)

  

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all." - Emily Dickinson

Tones on Tuesday #22 2.14.12

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope your day is filled with many opportunities to tell the people you love that you love them :o)! Thank you for taking some time to view the showcases from last week and link up your photos. I LOVE learning from you!

Jaymi at Live, Love, Travel

The vibrancy of this photo and how the colors pop individually and together is a bit of magic! I love the details of the bubbles. Definitely a technique I am going to have to try! Thank you for sharing with us Jaymi.

Courtney at The Story of Us

What struck me most about this photo, beside the beautiful and soft black and white tones, was the way the objects chosen worked so well together. They not only spell the word love, but they all have a lovely antique feel. Thank you for linking up Courtney!

Sivinden at Just a Moment...

The light and shadows in this photo are simply stunning. They draw you in and I for one just want to wander down the path and do a bit of exploring. Thank you for sharing Sivinden!

Jaymi, Courtney and Sivinden please go HERE to grab your showcase button. 

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here is the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

• The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
• Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
• One photo per photographer please. If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one if for Tones on Tuesday.
• Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
• Attach the Tones on Tuesday button to your post
• Leave comments for the other participants, share the love :o)!
• Have fun!

<center> <a href="http://scatteredhorizons.blogspot.com" target="_self"><img border="0" alt="Scattered Horizons" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oheKkR_BFoQ/ToqWTprynwI/AAAAAAAAAJE/eQ5mj0lgqx4/s1600/tonesontuesday2.jpg"></a> </center>

Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

Now for my picture this week...

On of my goals for the year has been to take a picture a day with my iPhone and post it on my Facebook page and to do a post a day on my blog. While I have taken a picture a day, the posting part in both cases hasn't been something I have been able to make a permanent part of my routine. I am trying not to be too hard on myself as this weekend I traveled to Astoria to see my dad for his birthday and this week I have parent teacher conferences. However, I am a very goal oriented person and find it difficult when I don't achieve my goals. I am going to try and focus on why I set those goals in the first place though...to stretch myself to keep taking pictures, to learn and grow and to continue to fulfill my passion. 

The photo below is from my weekend celebrating my dad's birthday. We took a trip to Longview for an errand and stopped at the park surrounding Lake Sacajawea. It a huge park with the most amazing trees. My goal was to capture the serenity of the park and to showcase the beautiful trees. For processing I used a preset called "Sweet" in an attempt play up the tones and the subtle differences in the lighting throughout the photo. Just another day of fulfilling my passion :o)...

Settings: ISO 200, 50mm, ss1/100, f/7.1 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"Glory lies in the attempt to reach one's goal and not in reaching it." - Mahatma Gandhi

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!

    

Favorite Photo of the Week: Birch Trees at Wanapum 11.20.11

The Friday after Thanksgiving came and went with me out taking pictures on a bay up north. It was cold, but peaceful and I am excited to post pictures this week. As I look back on last week, the picture below is by far my favorite. I love how the trees are growing in different directions but all upward. I love  the detail on their bark and I love how the edit made the fading colors of fall pop. To read more about this photo and see the SOOC shot, head here. 


Settings: ISO 200, 43mm, ss1/100, f/6.3 (full manual, cloudy wb)
Processing with a Free Lightroom Preset called Clear Yellow/Purple Split Tone Mild Vintage

"Trees are your best antiques." - Alexander Smith

Linking up with the link ups below. Be sure to check out the other favorite shots!

     

Tones on Tuesday #10 11.22.11

Between the prompt for the Good to Wow Challenge being gratefulness and Thanksgiving fast approaching I have been thinking more than usual about what I am grateful for. One thing that I am thankful for is Tones on Tuesday. I know I have said it before, but I learn so much from all of you. Seeing your photos not only teaches me, it also inspires me to continue to grow and expand my skills. Thank you for sharing your photos each week! I look forward to seeing what you have in store for this week.

Showcases from last week...

Rachel from Crinkle Photography

This photo captures such a wonderful moment and I think the black and white brings attention to his adoring expression framed by the interesting light in the background. Thank you for sharing Rachel!

Lili from Sanukipity Photography

I love the vintage feel of the tones in this photo, it makes it feel as though this could be a newly discovered photo of the past. Thank you for sharing Lili.

Lynette at Photography by Lynette

I love sunsets and the lines, color and light in this shot are amazing. The texture adds such an ethereal feel for an all around stunning photo. Thank you for sharing Lynette!

Be sure to grab your this button if you were showcased! (button for linking up can be found after the guidelines)

<br /> <a href="http://scatteredhorizons.blogspot.com" target="_self"><img border="0" alt="Scattered Horizons" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nb2adXWvuDU/Tp0bdkcJBlI/AAAAAAAAAM8/34ueiklmgZc/s1600/showcasedtt.jpg"></a> <br />

Now it's your turn to share your photo with altered tones. Here is the guidelines for Tones on Tuesday:

• The basic idea is to share one photo where you have altered the tones. Such as a black and white, sepia toned, selective coloring or colored photo. Feel free to share the original and edit, or just the edit.
• Please share a photo that you have taken and edited yourself.
• If you have more than one photo in your post please indicate which one if for Tones on Tuesday.
• Please link up with your permalink and not your blog address.
• Attach the Tones on Tuesday button to your post
• Leave comments for the other participants, share the love :o)!
• Have fun!

<br /> <a href="http://scatteredhorizons.blogspot.com" target="_self"><img border="0" alt="Scattered Horizons" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oheKkR_BFoQ/ToqWTprynwI/AAAAAAAAAJE/eQ5mj0lgqx4/s1600/tonesontuesday2.jpg"></a> <br />

Disclaimer - By participating you give Scattered Horizons permission to share your photo on this blog. Photographers will be given credit for their work.

The photo I am sharing this week is of some beautiful trees at Wanapum State Park I took this weekend during a trip over the mountains to find some snow in my old college town of Ellensburg, WA. I love the SOOC shot, but I wanted the colors to pop a bit more. I used a Free Lightroom Preset called Clear Yellow/Purple Split Tone Mild Vintage to bring out the oranges then I upped the blacks and contrast to bring definition to the trees. I added a small vignette to add a bit of mystery to the photo. I love that other photographers are willing to share their presets and allow me to learn from them. And I love how this photo turned out!

SOOC Shot
Settings: ISO 200, 43mm, ss1/100, f/6.3 (full manual, cloudy wb)

Edited Photo

"If you would know strength and patience, welcome the company of trees." - Hal Borlan

Joining the link ups below. Be sure to check out the beautiful shots and join the Tones on Tuesday link up found further down!

   

Water Droplet on a Backyard Leaf 11.12.11

Last night I watched Visionaries: Inside the Creative Mind on Oprah Winfrey's Network. They were profiling famous photographer Annie Leibovitz. I am the type of person who loves behind the scenes things. If a DVD has a behind the scene special in the bonus features I HAVE to watch it. Needless to say, I loved getting to see the behind the scenes process that Annie Leibovitz goes through to capture the shots she does. What intrigued me most was her new book "Pilgrimage," which involves her traveling to different places both natural and historical and photographing what she sees. My ultimate dream would be to do the same thing. I feel I am doing a modified version of it by going to places near where I live that I want to capture with photographs, but one day I hope to expand and discover the world with my camera in tow :o).

While my photo for today is not of any amazing new place, it is something I have wanted to photograph for a while - a droplet of water. While I do not have a macro lens, filter or extension tube just yet I decided to give it a try anyways. I am very pleased with the results. I love the detail on the droplet and the lines of the leaves. For processing, I used a Lightroom preset called "Clear Yellow/Purple Split Tone Mild Vintage." I need to do a better job of keeping track of where my presets came from as I can't recall for this one. I love how it gave the colors a bit of pop and the overall picture increased dimension. I would love to know what you think and what has inspired you this week.

Settings: ISO 800, 55mm, ss1/50, f/5.6 (full manual, cloudy wb)

"Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity.” - Bo Bennett

Linking up with Wild and Wonderful Wednesday. Wonderful moment in wild weather. Take a moment to check out the other shots!

Good to Wow Edit: Fallen Leaves 10.22.11

Despite the exhaustion of this week that feels like it should have ended days ago, I was excited to check out the guest tutorial Michelle wrote for the Good to Wow Edit challenge. You can check out the amazing tutorial here. Basically she showed us how to have a photo displayed through words. I downloaded a trial of Photoshop Elements to try it out and I loved how simple Michelle's tutorial was. It produced such an amazing result. Thank you Michelle! I edited my other SOOC shots for the challenge using Lightroom Presets from Preset Heaven which had a post called "28 Free Presets from Chris." I wanted to make the photos look a bit aged. I also used the preset that comes with Lightroom for rounded corners. You can see the SOOC shots and read more about my memories here. 


Now on with the edits!

"A few days ago I walked along the edge of the lake and was treated to the crunch and rustle of leaves with each step I made. The acoustics of this season are different and all sounds, no matter how hushed, are as crisp as autumn air." - Eric Sloane

Linking up with Good to Wow: Edit. Check out the amazing before and afters!